I only said that because I’d come across opinions to that effect sometime recently on a forum. Either side has valid points and they are just as doom-and-gloom as the other. Talking about mass popularity though, it is significant that we have shows like Game of Thrones pushing the boundaries of universal acceptance where, off the top of my head and as I’m not too immersed in TV shows, I can’t recall a similarly popular SF show. Smallville was huge though, even spawning a season 11 comic series. And the time of Stargate is sadly over too 🙁 Used to love those shows, although I haven’t seen SG: Universe as yet. Have heard that it’s good though, and quite underrated.

I didn’t take anything untoward out of what you said at all.:) And in fact, my first response was “Ah, I would have thought it was the opposite” just based on my perception that there is far more Fantasy than SciFi being written and published right now—but often what feels intuitive is not necessarily right and it is always good to have one’s perceptions challenged and ‘stretched’ in any case, which is why I am looking forward to reading Rowena’s post. I am wondering if maybe she just means that scifi still has a greater air of respectability—but shall have to wait and read to find out!

In terms of TV shows and mainstream respectability, I can’t either–I love Babylon 5 and Firefly, as well as aspects of Lex, for example, but I can’t think of anything that really impacts on the mainstream (too many ideas perhaps–oops, I wash out my mouth!) OK, maybe Battlestar Galactica came close? SG Universe was ok I thought, respectable but not stunning. But it had space ships and stuff so that made it ok by definition in my book…

"THE HEIR OF NIGHT by Helen Lowe is a richly told tale of strange magic, dark treachery and conflicting loyalties, set in a well realized world."--Robin Hobb

Thornspell

Jacket art by Antonio Javier Caparo

Thornspell is my first novel and is published by Knopf (Random House Children's Books, USA). It won the Sir Julius Vogel Award 2009 for Best Novel: Young Adult and was a Storylines Childrens' Literature Trust Notable Book 2009.